Drum Type Washing Machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a drum type washing machine including a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, a bearing housing including a huh having a rotating shaft of the drum passed therethrough and bearings placed in a center portion thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an outside circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening portion provided integrally with the supporting portion, a connective supporter fastened to the fastening portion for supporting the bearing housing, and a vibration attenuating device between the connective supporter and the cabinet for attenuating vibration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, to a drum type washing machine which enables to enhance rigidity of a system thereof and make the drum type washing machine lighter.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the washing machine performs steps of washing, rinsing, and spinning for removing dirt from laundry by using interaction between the detergent and the water. In the washing machines, there are cylinder type, agitator type, pulsator type washing machines according to washing types.

The agitator type washing machine washes laundry by rotating a blade like agitator upright from a center of a washing tub in left/right directions, and the pulsator type washing machine washes the laundry with water circulation formed by rotating a disc like pulsator. The drum type washing machine washes the laundry by placing water, detergent, and the laundry in the drum having a plurality of projections on the drum and rotating the drum around a horizontal axis at a slow speed to cause impacts as the laundry is dropped after lifted by the projections and friction between the laundry. Since the drum type washing has advantage in that there is almost no damage of the laundry and water consumption is low, it is a trend that use of the drum type washing machine increases.

FIG. 1 illustrates a related art drum type washing machine, schematically. The related art drum type washing machine will be described briefly with reference to FIG. 1.

The related art drum type washing machine is provided with a drum 1 for holding washing objects, a tub 2 and a cabinet 7 both surrounding the drum 1, and a motor 5 for driving the drum 1. The related art drum type washing machine is also provided with a drum driving shaft 4 rotated by the motor 5 for rotating the drum 1. The drum driving shaft 4 is supported on a bearing housing 3 on a rear wall of the tub 2. Under the tub 2, there is a damper 6 for reducing transmission of vibration from the tub 2 caused by rotation of the drum to the cabinet 7.

At the end, if the drum 1 having the laundry introduced thereto rotates, the vibration is transmitted from the drum 1 to the bearing housing 3, and therefrom to the tub 2. The vibration is dampened by the damper before the vibration is transmitted from the tub 2 to the cabinet 7.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the related art drum type washing machine has the following problems.

First, the bearing housing fixedly secured to the tub and the damper under the tub amplify vibration of the tub at the time the drum vibrates, to increase noise from an entire system. The amplified vibration of the tub requires enhancing strength of the entire system.

Second, the misalignment of the bearings in the bearing housing causes difficulty in placing the drum driving shaft in the bearings.

Third, the location of the bearing housing which supports the drum at the rear wall of the tub requires an excessive rigidity of the rear wall of the tub.

Technical Solution

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which enables to enhance rigidity of a system thereof and make the drum type washing machine lighter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which enables to reduce vibration from an entire system when the drum vibrates.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which enables to reduce a number of components of, and a time period required for assembling, a bearing housing.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, and a bearing housing including a hub having a rotating shaft of the drum passed therethrough and bearings placed in a center portion thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an outside circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening portion provided integrally with the supporting portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet, a bearing housing including a first bearing housing having a hub with a rotation shaft of the drum passed therethrough, a supporting portion along an outside circumference to the first bearing housing, and a second bearing housing having a fastening portion adjacent to the supporting portion, a vibration attenuating device in the cabinet for attenuating vibration generated by the drum, and a plurality of connective supporters for distributing force from the bearing housing and transmissing the distributed force to the vibration attenuating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a related art drum type washing machine, schematically;

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 2 with a partial cut away view; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a first bearing housing mounted to the drum type washing machine in FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention schematically, and FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the drum type washing machine in FIG. 2 with a partial au away view.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the drum type washing machine may include a cabinet 70 which forms an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a drum 10 rotatably provided in the cabinet 70, a rotating shaft 40 for rotating the drum 10, and a motor 50 connected to the rotating shaft 40. Of course, the drum type washing machine has a bearing housing 300 for supporting the rotating shaft 40. The bearing housing 300 includes a first bearing housing 310 for direct supporting of the rotating shaft 40, and a second bearing housing 320 on an outside of the first bearing housing 310.

The drum type washing machine also may include a vibration attenuating device 60 for attenuating vibration transmitted from the drum to the cabinet 70. In the meantime, a connective supporter 400 for supporting the bearing housing 300 may be provided between the vibration attenuating device 60 and the bearing housing 300.

In detail, the connective supporter 400 has one side fastened to a layer side of the bearing housing with a fastening member 30, and the other side fixedly secured to the vibration attenuating device 60. The vibration attenuating device 60 is projected from a bottom of the cabinet 70, and may include attenuating members, such as dampers or springs. The bearing housing 300 and the connective supporter 400 will be described in detail, later.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the first bearing housing mounted to the drum type washing machine in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first bearing housing 310 may include a hub 311 for placing the bearings (see 21 and 22 in FIG. 2) therein, a supporting portion 312 which extends from an outside circumference of the hub 311, and a fastening portion 313 which also extends from an outside circumference of the hub 311 longer than the supporting portion 312. In this instance, it is preferable that the hub 311, the supporting portion 312, and the fastening portion 313 are formed integrally.

The supporting portion 312 may have at least one first fastening boss 312 a for fastening a stator (see 51 in FIG. 3) of the motor thereto, and the fastening portion 313 may have at least one second fastening boss 313 a for fastening the connective supporter 400 thereto.

In detail, the hub 311 may have a center opening 311 a with a front bearing 21 and a rear bearing 22 placed in opposite sides thereof for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft (see 40 in FIG. 2).

The supporting portion 312 surrounds the outside circumference of the hub 311 and is extended in a radial direction therefrom. It is preferable that the supporting portion 312 has a thickness of, for an example, 2-3 mm, and has a shape repeatedly projected and recessed substantially with reference to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the hub 311 along a circumferential direction. The projected portion of the supporting portion 312 may have the fastening boss 312 a for fastening the stator 51 of the motor as described before.

In the meantime, the fastening portion 313 is an extension from the hub 311 longer than the supporting portion 312. It is preferable that the fastening portion 313 is fabricated of a stiff material thicker than the supporting portion 312. This is because the connective supporter 400 is fastened to the second fastening boss 313 a of the fastening portion 313 for supporting weight of the drum 10 and the bearing housing 300.

In the embodiment, a plurality of the fastening portions 313 are formed in a radial direction of the bearing housing 300, for an example, two as shown in the drawing. The connective supporter 400 is fastened to each of the second fastening bosses 313 a of the fastening portions 313. Of course, numbers of the fastening portions 313 and the connective supporters 400 are not limited to two, but appropriate variations thereof are possible.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the connective supporter 400 may include an extension portion 410 extended downward in a radial direction of the bearing housing 300, and a connection portion bent from the extension portion 410. Preferable, a plurality of the connective supporters 400 are provided, and more preferably, the connective supporters 400 are provided symmetrically under the bearing housing 300.

As a result, the extension portion 410, extended in the radial direction of the bearing housing 300 from a lower side thereof, uniformly distributes force to the connective supporter 400. The connection portion 420 transmits the distributed force from the extension portion 410 to the vibration attenuating device 60. In detail, the connection portion 420 is mounted parallel to the bottom of the cabinet 70 substantially, and may be connected to a first vibration attenuating device 61 having a damper and a second vibration attenuating device 63 having a spring at an underside of the connection portion 420.

The extension portion 410 may have reinforcing ribs 411 for reinforcing strength of the connective supporter 400 for sustaining the force to the extension portion 410.

In the meantime, the second bearing housing 320 is connected to the first bearing housing 310 on a front side of the first bearing housing 310, i.e., on a front side of the supporting portion 312.

The first bearing housing 310 may be injection molded inserted in the second bearing housing 320, or fabricated separately and coupled with the second bearing housing 320. In a case the first bearing housing 310 is injection molded inserted in the second bearing housing 320, the first bearing housing 310 and the second bearing housing 320 will be fabricated as one unit. In the meantime, the second bearing housing 320 may be formed of plastic, and the first bearing housing 310 may be formed of metal, for an example, aluminum.

In the meantime, since the front bearing 21 and the rear bearing 22 are placed in the same component of hub 311, there is no axis misalignment between the front bearing 21 and the rear bearing 22.

Moreover, since only a component with heavy weight, i.e., only the fastening portion 313 fastened to the connective supporter 400 is fabricated of the stiff material, while the supporting portion 312 fastened to the second bearing housing 320 is fabricated of thin material, total weight and size can be reduced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The drum type washing machine of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, the bearing housing, having the supporting portion for mounting the stator of the motor thereto and the fastening portion for mounting the connective supporter thereto fabricated as one unit, permits to reduce a number of components, and a time period, required for assembly of the bearing housing.

Second, while the related art vibration attenuation device supports the tub directly, because the connective supporter of the present invention extended in the radial direction of the bearing housing distributes force to the bearing housing, vibration noise from an entire system can be reduced.

Third, the direct fastening of the stator of the motor and the connective supporter to the strong first bearing housing improves system stiffness, and makes an entire system lighter. 

1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub provided in the cabinet; a drum rotatably provided in the tub; a bearing housing including a hub having a rotating shaft of the drum passed therethrough and bearings placed in a center portion thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an outside circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening portion provided integrally with the supporting portion; a connective supporter fastened to the fastening portion for supporting the bearing housing; and a vibration attenuating device between the connective supporter and the cabinet for attenuating vibration.
 2. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the connective supporters are provided in symmetry under the bearing housing.
 3. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connective supporter includes; an extension portion extended in a radial direction of the bearing housing, and a connection portion bent from the extension portion and connected to the vibration attenuating device.
 4. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection portion is provided parallel to a bottom of the cabinet substantially, and at least one vibration attenuating device is connected to an underside of the connection portion.
 5. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connective supporter further includes reinforcing ribs for reinforcing strength of the connective supporter.
 6. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stator of a motor for driving the drum is fastened to the supporting portion.
 7. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing housing includes; a first bearing housing for direct supporting of the rotating shaft of the drum, and a second bearing housing provided on an outside of the first bearing housing.
 8. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first bearing housing is injection molded inserted in the second bearing housing.
 9. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the supporting portion and the fastening portion are provided at the first bearing housing.
 10. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet; a bearing housing including a first bearing housing having a hub with a rotation shaft of the drum passed therethrough; a supporting portion along an outside circumference to the first bearing housing, and a second bearing housing having a fastening portion adjacent to the supporting portion; a vibration attenuating device in the cabinet for attenuating vibration generated by the drum; and a plurality of connective supporters for distributing force from the bearing housing and transmissing the distributed force to the vibration attenuating device. 